NANCY Seminar – Fabrice LE LEC (Université de Lille)

Event details :

Title: Algorithm Attitude: an Experimental Investigation of Algorithm Delegation for Choice Tasks, co-written with Elina ISHMUKHAMETOVA and Vincent LENGLIN

Abstract: Are people willing to delegate their decisions to algorithms? This question is crucial for understanding the economic implications of AI. In this paper, we contribute to answering it by experimentally examining attitudes toward algorithmic delegation, i.e., the willingness to delegate choices to algorithms. Unlike prior research focused on forecasting or judgmental tasks, our study centers on choice tasks, where individuals make decisions based on personal preferences over lotteries. Two opposing forces may drive delegation: the desire for autonomy versus the burden of choice. To isolate intrinsic preferences, we equalize error rates across all treatments. Results from a preregistered study show no significant difference in willingness to delegate between human and algorithmic decision-makers, suggesting that people are not generally averse to algorithmic decision-making.